HAMILTON, Bermuda, Aug 14, CMC – The Bermuda government says it is advancing a new framework to ensure significant changes within the existing healthcare system can be reviewed before implementation where they may materially affect patients, access to services, costs or the wider health system.
“My responsibility as Minister of Health is first and foremost to protect the health and wellbeing of the people of Bermuda,” said Health Minister, Kim Wilson, adding “we welcome innovation, investment and responsible change when they strengthen healthcare and improve outcomes.
“But when significant changes have the potential to affect access, affordability, patient choice or the wider stability of our health system, the government must have the ability to step in, examine the implications and protect the public interest,” Wilson said, reiterating her commitment to protecting the public interest and ensuring that major healthcare decisions are assessed not only from a commercial perspective, but also for their impact on the population.
“Our residents should never be an afterthought when major decisions are made about their healthcare. Our health system must work for everyone, not simply for the largest or most powerful interests within it.”
Under the proposed framework, significant healthcare changes, meeting a defined criterion, would be subject to an advance review by the Bermuda Health Council, which will assess the potential impact on patients, access, costs, quality, competition, sustainability, and the wider healthcare system.
Following that review, the final decision on whether a proposed change may proceed would rest with the Minister of Health with the authorities saying that this establishes a clear system of accountability.
“Bermuda’s healthcare system exists first and foremost to serve the people of this country. We should welcome innovation, investment, and philanthropy where they improve lives, but major healthcare decisions must also be considered in the context of the wider system,” said Dr. Ricky Brathwaite, the chief executive officer of the Bermuda Health Council.
“Advance review is about understanding the consequences of significant change before they become difficult to reverse and keeping the people of Bermuda at the center of the decisions that shape their healthcare,” he added.
The government is also advancing stronger competition and anti-monopoly protections to ensure that excessive concentration of market power does not undermine patient choice, fair competition or access to care.
“I am committed to making sure that government has the tools necessary to protect our residents when changes within our healthcare system could have consequences far beyond a single organization.
“We will act decisively in the public interest. We will examine the findings, listen to the people affected and, where necessary, use the authority of Government to protect the public interest.
“Healthcare exists to serve people. That principle must remain at the center of every major decision that shapes Bermuda’s health system,” Wilson added.
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